Circuit controlling mechanism



April 25, 1933. Q E ORR 1,906,198

CIRCUIT CONTROLLING MEGHANI SM Filed June 6, 1928 3 sheets-sheet 1 FEE 7 IIIIIIIIIII/ 6 IIIIII/I/II/III INVENTOR.

Car/'0 E. Orr

III/I/I/II/II/I H IIII/I/I/III/II April 25, 1933. c. E. ORR

CIRCUIT CONTROLLING MECHANISM April 25, 1933.

- C. E. ORR

CIRCUIT CONTROLLING MECHANISM Filed June 6, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

Carroll E. Orr- ATTW Patented Apr. 25, 1933 UNETED STATES PATEEQT OFFEQE CARROLL E. ORB, OF ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR g'lO ELEVATOR SUPPLIES COMPANY, INC, 033 HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY, A CCRPORATl-J T NLVJ JERSEY CIRCUIT CONTROLLING BIECHAHISLI Application filed. June 6,

This invention relates to elevator signals and particularly to those signals or indications which are employed for denoting the position and progress of the elevators, so that persons in any elevator or at any floor Where the indications are displayed may know the exact location and direction of motion of the associated elevator at all times during its movement.

The present invention consists in certain novel features and improvements in construction and method of operation over the system described and claimed in the application of Cyrus Bassett and Harold J. Fear, filed in the United States Patent Office on October 27, 1925, and bearing Serial No. 65,086, and also consists in improvements on the system described and claimed in the application of Cyrus W. Bassett, Serial No. 356,219, filed April 18th, 1929. Y

One of the principal features of such systems as those above referred to resides in the provision of means whereby the progress of the elevator in one direction causes the progressive illumination of a series of index elements, arranged in file formation, together with means for immediately reversing the di rection of progress of the column of light thus formed upon the reversal of the direction of motion of the elevator, whether such reversal of direction takes place at the limit of the elevators path of travel or at any intermediate point. v

The invention further relates to systems wherein means are provided whereby such a reversal of direction of the elevators movement at any point in its travel causes an extinguishing of the light produced by the aforesaid index elements, with the exception of the last illuminated index element, and a simultaneous illumination of all the index elements theretotore unilluminated together with the continuation of the illumination of the aforesaid last illuminated index element. The effect produced by this novel means, from the observers point of view, is the efiect obtained by taking an illuminated column and turning it over through an arc of 180 about its foremost element as an axis, whereby the illuminated column undergoes a complete Serial No. 233,331

change of position and at the same time an end to end reversal.

In the preferred form of invention as illustrated. herein, electric lamps constitute the index elements, and the illuminated column is that which is produced by the successive and progressive illumination of the electric lamps asthe associated elevator proceeds from floor to floor in either direction, the means for producing such progressive energization of the floor desi nating lamps consisting of commutator mechanism oi novel construction which operates to close the circuits to successive lamps in proper sequence, and further operates to hold such circuits closed until such time as the elevator reverses its direction of travel; at which time the novel commutator means operates to cause an immediate breaking of all said circuits, with the exception of the circuit last closed, and a simultaneous closing of all remaining circuits not theretofore closed.

Other objects and advantages to be derived from the used of the novel mechanism disclosed herein reside in the specific construction and arrangement of the parts, and will become more apparent as the description progresses; reference being had to the ac companying drawings wherein Figure. 1 is a vertical section of a building having several floors served by a bank of elevators, one of whichis shown in this figure.

Figure 2 is a View on a larger scale of the commutator mechanism indicated in Fig. 1, the casing of the commutator being removed so as to reveal the construction of the moving parts.

Figure 3 is a schematic illustration of the electrical parts, including the commutator, and the circuits involved in the preferred embodiment.

Figures 4, 5 and 6 are schematic representations showing the appearance 01 the indicating units under conditions different from those assumed to be obtaining in Figure 7 is a view of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2, including the circuit reversing mechanism.

Figure 8 is a side view 01 the in Fig. 7.

Figure 9 IS a section on line 99 of Fig. 1

parts shown Fig. 10 is a section on line 1010 of Fi 2.

In Fig. 1 an elevator 9 represents one of a group of elevators adapted to travel up and down an elevator hatchvay 10 under the control oI a suitable driving motor and associated hoisting mechanism, part of which is represented by the sheave 11; the elevator 9 const tuting a means to receiving and discharging passengers at the floors 1 to 8 shown in Fig. 1. The number of floors, of course, has no particular significance so far as the novelty of the ii vention is concerneo, eight fioors being assumed merely for convenience of illustration.

There is preferably located at each of the floors a panel 12-18 etc. upon each of which is mounted a group of floor indicating elements as to 27 inclusive, for example. is illustrated herein each of the index elenents 20 to 27 is in the form of an electric lamp, the amps being ar 'anged in tile formation one above the other so as to produce when illuminated a s'ngle column of light. The column of light may be of uniform intensity or it may co isist of alternately light and dark sections, depending upon whether or not a t'ocuciu glass or other screen of translucent qual s is plac d in front of the row of lamps. Fart e a.though only the index elements 1 ing panel may have n ny oi these columns of lamps there are elevators in the building. However, since l tie illustration of such additional columns of lamps and the operating meai therefor W01 ld constitute mere duplication over the illustrations in Figures 1 to 6 inclusive, is relieved un necessary to include such additional illustration.

The first floor lamp 20 on ach vane 1213 etc, is multiplied to the lowermost L stationary orush u it Fig. 3) on the in. The second lamp commutator mecln i 1 21 is multiplied to bid. there being one brush unior each floor lamp. Each brush unit cons of a pair of brushes, as 3% and ills 10), each of which is mounted so as to enga sively the strips 40 to 4A as the l ter travel back and forth in response to the travel of the elevator. In this connection a. feature of the construction is arrangement of the brushes in staggered torn in, with the right-hand brush oi each slightly in advance oi the leit member 1 the pair, as indicat d best in Fig. 2. The advantage 01 this taii'gered arrangement is that it eliminates arcing between the brushes on the one hand and the strips at) to 44 on the other, and als prevents undesired momentary interruptio is of the circuits controlled thereby the. brushes pass oil and on successive strips. By staggering each pair 01 brushes, the leading brush of the pair reaches he succeedi g contact strips before the t'aning orush leaves the preceding strip, Fig thereby accomplishing the abm'e-mentioncd pm'pos' lrinciual among the novel cures oi the nism inc provnaion on 1 of relatiwel lenadiy conducting strips in and ii, there being one on either side onducting segments, as shown in Figures 3 to (3 inclusive. The purpose ant advantage to be derived from this novel construe 'on and arrangement current -onducting members will become apnarent as the description proceeds.

Suitable means to moving the carriage 38 in synchronism with the elevator 9 are provided, and as illustrated herein consist of a chain 45 passing over a sprocket actuated. b y sheave 11, a second sheave l6, suitable speed reducing mechanism ii, and cable -18 extending substantially the entire length oi the hatchway 10 and connecting at its lower end by suitable cou iling attachments 49 to a rack 50 which in turn connects at its lower end by an adjustable coupling bolt 51 with the weighted carriage on which the conducting strips a0 to -l-linclusive are mounted. As shown nest in Figs. and it), the -arriage 38 is provided with rollers 5% 5i permitting free longitudinal movement along the guinea 55 and 56 respectively, the latter being suitably secured to the wall of casing 57. T ra veling with the segments l0, l1 and 42, and in sliding engagement with stationary teed bars 107, 108 and 109 a set of brushes 207, 208 and 209, (see Fig 2, E3 and i0) suitably secured to the carrian 3 and iusunited there from.

A novel i'nechanisin whereby every change in the direction of travel of the elevato S] (and consequently of the cable it?) produces a reversal of the circuits controlled by the commutator segments: 40 to ll incl sive is illustrated in Figur 2, T. 8 and 9, and consists principally of a gear 60 adapted to mesa with the teeth on the rack 50, a switch member and a disk 78 so constructed as to be capable of only a predetermined degree of from the side of disk 78.

The switch member 75 is mounted to oscillate on the shaft 76 and has keyed thereto a second disk 77 on the outer face of which is mounted the disk 78 with which is associated the gear 60. A friction connection is provided between the gear 60 on the one hand and the disks 78, 77 and switch member 75 on the other, consisting preferably of the spring pressed pins 80 passing through the disk 78 and threaded into the disk 77. W'ith this construction the routine rotation of the gear 60 in response to the longitudinal movement of the rack 50 does not in any degree disturb the stationary condition of the disks 78 and 77 and hence of the switch member 75, until the rack 50 reaches its limit of movement with the arrival of the elevator at the lower terminal. At such time the bumper 67 is designed to come into shifting engagement with the bell crank 63, moving it into the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2. When the elevator arrives at the opposite terminal, however, the engagement of the opposite bumper 67 with the opposite bell crank 64 will cause it to shift to the dash line position shown in Fig. 2. This produces a shifting of the disk 78 and hence of the switch member 75 to its opposite position shown in Figures 5 and 6.

In the position of the parts as shown in Fig. 2, commutator carriage 38 has reached its lowermost limit of travel (assumed for convenience to be the point reached when the elevator is at the first floor level) in which position the bumper 67 on the rack 50 has caused a shifting of the bell crank 63 to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2; the corresponding position for the switch member 75 being as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

Now, if the elevator reverses its position at an intermediate point, the consequent reversal of the direction of rotation of gear 60 will produce through the instrumentality of the friction exerting pins 80, a corresponding partial rotation of the disks 78 and 77 (and hence of the switch member 75) to their opposite position, the oscillation of the disks 78, 77 and 75 ceasing as soon as the rotation of the outer disk 78 carries the pins and 66 to their opposite limits of arcuate movement as determined by the length of the arms and slots on bell cranks 63 and 64. 7

From the foregoing it is apparent that whenever the elevator is ascending the switch mechanism is in the position shown in Fig. 2 and the switch member is in the position shown in Figures 3 and 4, and that whenever the elevator reverses its direction of travel the switch mechanism will be shifted to the position shown in dash lines in Fig. 2, and

the switch member 75 to the position shown in Figures 5 and 6; and furthermore, such shifting of the parts will occur whether the reversal of direction takes place at the limit of travel or at any intermediate point.

Having now described the various parts entering into the operation of the system a description of their inter-relation and method of operation will now be carried through. Considering the conditions to exist as shown in Fig. 2, that is, the elevator 9 standing at the first floor after having made a downward trip, bumper 67 in contacting with the bell crank 63 has just caused switch member 75 to be thrown to the position shown in Figures 3 and 4, thereby bringing its conducting surface 100 into electrical connection with the fingers 101 and 102 (see Fig. 3). Under these same conditions the disposition of the carriage 38 is such as is indicated in Fig. 3 wherein the central segment 40 is in engagement with the brush 30 and all other brushes are in engagement with the elongated segment 43. In this position of the parts a circuit is closed to the lowermost index element 20 representing the first floor, the circuit passing from the plus feed thru conductor 105, index lamp 20, conductor 106, brush 30, segment 40, traveling brush 207, stationary feed bar 107, and back to the negative feed by way of conductor 110. At the same time the circuit to the index element 20 is maintained by reason of the presenceof the circuit holding conductor 117, the circuit passing as follows: From the plus feed thru conductor 105, index lamp 20, conductor 106, brush 30, conductor 117, finger 101, conducting surface 100 of the switch member 75 and back to the negative feed by way of the central finger 120 and conductors 121 and 122. At the same time, inasmuch as there is no energized conductor, connecting with the elongated segment 43, the index elements governed by the brushes 31 to 37 inclusive are de-energized. It is therefore apparent that lamps 21 to 27 inclusive on the panels at each floor are extinguished while the lamp 20 on each panel is illuminated as an indication that the car is standing at the first floor.

As the car moves upwardly towards the second floor the corresponding upward movement of the carriage 38 first brings short segment 42 into engagement with the brush 30 thereby transferring the circuit through the lamp 20 to the said segment 42 as a shunt around the central segment 40; the circuit through conductor 117 being retained also. As the car arrives at the second floor the central segment 40 has arrived opposite the brush 31 and the elongated segment 44 opposite the brush 30. The engagement of the segment 40 with the brush 31 closes a circuit to the index element 21 on each panel, the circuit passing from the plus feed thru conductor 105, index lamp 21, conductor 115, brush 31, segment 10, traveling brush 207, stationary feed strip 107 and back by way of conductor 110 to the negative feed.

Now, as the car proceeds upwardly toward the third floor the circuit to the index lamp 20 is maintained as traced above, the circuit to the index lamp 21 is transferred from the path above traced to the following path: from the plus feed through conductor 105, index lamp 21, conductor 115, brusa 31, conducting segment 12, traveling brush 209, stationary feed strip 109, conductor 1 15, finger 102, conducting surface 100 of switch memher 7 5, and thence back to the negative feed by way of return. brush 120 and conductors 121 and 122. The short segment -12, therefore, is instrumental in the maintenance of a circuit to the index lamp 21 after the initial circuit thereto passing through the central segment 10 has been broken.

The further progress of the car to a point nearer the third floor effects the final transfer of the circuit to the index lamp 21 to a path including the last segment 1-1, the path being traceable as follows: from the plus feed thru conductor 105, index lamp 21, conductor 115, brush 31, conducting segment 11, brush 30, circuit holding conductor 117, and thence back to the negative feed by way of switch 100 and conductors and 122.

It is, therefore, appthat the initial brush 30 and the auxiliary conductor 117 constitute the means for holding circuit completcd to each of the index lamps as tiie elevator progresses, this being accomplished thru the medium of the elongatet segment 14-, to which segment each of the circuit is successively shunted after its initial closing thru the instrumentality the central seg' ment -10 and the intermedate temporarily bridging segment -12. Thus, when the parts have have reached the position shown in I ig. &, for example, (which position they reach when the ele-.*ator arrives at the fourth llc'ir in its upward travel) the elongated segment 11, the initial brush 30, and the conductor 117 coact to maintain circuits to the nlex lamp. 20. and while the central segment 40, coacting with the bra sh 33. has ust eifectcd a closing of the circuit to the index lamp 2?) representing the fourth floor.

Now, should the elevator reverse at the fourth floor and st rt to descend again there will be a prompt extinguishing of the li 20, 21 and 22. a continuation of the illumination of the light 23, and a prompt i lnzuination of the lamps 2% to 27 inclusive to prcdnc the effect shown in Fig. 5. The prompt extinguishing of the lamps 20, 21 and 2' caused by the resulting shifting of the s member 75 to the position indicated in 1g J, thereby breaking the circuits which had theretofore been maintained to the lamps 20, 21 and 22 thru the instrumentality of the switch fingers 101 and 102. The continuation oft-he illumination ofthe index element 23 results from the fact that the circuit theretoas is always the case with the circuit to the foremost lamp representing the floor which the elevator is nearestfollows a path which does not include the switch member 75, and which. therefore, is unaffected by any movement thereof. Finally, the circuits to the index lamps 24 to 27 inclusive are closed by reason of the engagement of the surface 100 of the switch member 75 with the fingers 133 and 134- eontrolling the circuits to the brushes 3% to 37 inclusive, which in turn govern the operation of the lamps 2% to 27 inclusive.

From the foregoing it is apparent that a circuit is always maintained to the index element representing the floor nearest to the elevator while at the same time circuits are likewise maintained to the index elements representing all floors between such floor and the terminal away from which the elevator is traveling. The effect to produce a column of: illumination, the head of which indicates the floor nearest the elevator at a given time and the direction of the expansion of the column indicating the direction of travel of the elevator.

Various modifications may be made in the construction. arrangement and application of the arts without eparting from the scope of the invention disclosed herein, and as defined in the appended claims. Thus for example, in place of the switch construction shown in Fig. 3, any other suitable circuit shifting device. such as a set of mercury cups or tuhes may be employed; similarly other types of reversing mechanism may be substituted for the friction operating mechanism of Figiu'es 7, 8 and 9. Likewise the indicator panel may be placed in the elevator itself or in locations other than those shown in Fig. 1, and other types of indicating units such as electromagnetic targets may be substituted for the electric lamps.

I claim. 1. A circuit controller comprising a pair t "1t co uctin; segments. a series of :es, means for renable successively means intermefor connecting of brushes at urrcnt. means for "1:! first brush and 1 all other brushes, t said brushes one direction, and .nt throu zli the last 1 segments. from :lative movement mcomprising a source oi condi Jig segments, means for connecting said segments to 21 ll t t said source alternately, said means comprising a series of brushes and means for rendering said brushes engageable successively with said segments, conductors permanently connecting each of said brushes with one side of said current source, and contact means intermediate said pair of segments for alternately connecting the first and last brushes of said series with the opposite side of said current source, and thereby energizing the segment with which the first or last brush is engaged, the current passing through said first or last brush and said segment in series, and through the remaining brushes in parallel, by way of said first named conductors.

3. A circuit controller comprising in combination with the apparatus defined in claim 2, additional means for energizing said first brush when not in engagement with either of said segments, said means including one of said first named conductors.

4. A circuit controller comprising in combination with the apparatus defined in claim 2, additional means for energizing said first and last brushes when not in engagement with either of said segments. said means including a third current conducting segment interposed between said pair of segments and engageable with each brush in sequence, and a connection from said segment to said current source.

5. A circuit controller comprising a source of current, a pair of conducting segments, and means for connecting said segments to said source alternately, said means compris ing a series of brushes and means for rendering said brushes engageable successively with said segments, conductive permanently connecting each of said brushes with one side of said current source, additional conductors for energizing the segments when the first or last brush of said series is in enagement therewith. the current passing through said first or last brush and said segment in series, and through the remaining brushes in parallel, by way of said first named conductors, and means for energizing said first brush independently of either of said segments when not engaged therewith.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5. wherein the last named energizing means includes a third current conducting segment interposed between said pair of segments and engageable with each brush and sequence, and a connection from said segment to said current source.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein the last named energizing means includes a third conducting segment interposed between said pair of segments and engageable with each brush in sequence, a connection from said segment to said current source, and a fourth conducting segment also interposed between said pair of segments, and

connected electrically to said source only during relative movement of said brushes and segments in one direction.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the current feeding means includes a switch in circuit with said brushes, a lever for shifting said switch and common means for moving said segments and shifting said lever.

Signed at Hoboken in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey this fifth day of June A. D. 1928.

CARROLL E. ORR. 

